Wichita eagle., 1887-01-13
cases brought before that tribunal Near

tdscS DrougnI before that TRIBUNAL NeaI
iy SIX hundred cases are now on its docket
and over thirty cases are filed, each month
Inc three justices constituting the cour
are not le to dispose of more that hire
hundred cases each year, and the undecid
ed cases are, therefore, steadily increa>iu 9
LAWS AND SUPREME COURT REPORT.
Provision should be made for electrotyp
ing the laws of the state. and the suprem
court reports, as they are printed, so tina
new editions can be published to meet thr
demands Of the future.
THE DISTRICT COURTS.
Two years ago I called the attention o
| the legislature 10 the necessity for an equit
able division of the state int Judicial d.
/ tricts. We have now tgycut. four distrir
! judges, and if their Iabors were fairly AZ
| p0ytiOned, not one Of them l.oulG be over
! burdened. aud all III legal usiacss e III,
state could 5e promptly arl fi.rls dis
| patched
But as the Judicial districts are now
formed, several Of the Judges have abund
ant leisure, while others. hol ung courts
every month. are unable 70 step theii
dOckets clear. \ general ret.i,tricjir.g Of
the state would avoid the necessity of Great
ing new districts and thus prevent an in
crease OF Judicial expenditures.
OUR DIVORCE LAWS
Grave complaints are made from many
sources, concerning our laws relating 10 di
vorce, which, il Is believed. establish such
grounds for separation as inevitably tend To
make the marriage contract one careles.lv
assumed because easily abrogated. Our
laws on this subject should be amended,
and this Objectionable provision repealed.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ; OFFICE.
During the last few wears the duties de
volved upon the attorney general have
been largely increased The passage Of the
prohibiIory law has, it is fair to say, more
than doubled the work Of his office Suits
10 set aside fraudulent school land sales
have been numerous and eXacting
TIE STATE BOARD OF PARDoSs.
The state board of pard,ae has held such
meetings as the Law requires has carefully
and patiently Investigated all applications
made for the pardon OF llv breakers. and
has submitted 10 me full and intelligent
reports Of its findings in each case. with
such recommendations a. in the judg-
ment Of its members, the facts ascertaiued
seemed to justify The legislature. in pro-
vitiug for such tribunal, acted wisely.
OUR ELECTION LAWS
Frequent complaints are made ia the
public press concerning the loose manner
In which elections are conducted. and it
must he evident u every impartial observer
that our election laws need amendment
Every safeguard which experience sug
ge~ts rs necessary should be adopted to Sc
cure i fair, honest vote. t. protect voters
a -tinst deception and 10 secure an honest
count Of the ballots cast.
The registry law low in force is motor
iously defective. Il promotes and encour-
ages, rather than prevents illegal voting
| specially renew the recommendations
IN ms last biennial messa-c, con
corning the provisions which should De en-
bodied in Il registration law.
Stringent laws should be adopted - pre-
vent the printing OF circulating @: fraIdu
lent tickets-ticketS purporjing 10 b. SHAT
they are not. Fraudulent tickets >hoald
be prohibited under severe penalties.
Thousands Of voters are. at each election
held IN this state. practically deprived Of
their right t. vote for the candidates Of
their choice by the circulation at the polls
# such fraudulent tickets aS those referred
to.
General dissatisfaction is expressed con
the election of township officers al
the annual fall election. 1t has resulted
only in complicaling js-ues in promoting
ti~gracefuI system OF trading candidates,
and in Dr0longing the count Of ballots In
MANY instances election boards have been
in session for nearly twturv-four hours
ba al. l,-T ~.
count of ballots could be completed The
:hanee made al the special session of 1885,
IN The time of holding elections for town
ship officers, mas nothing to recommend ii.
and the old system Of spring elections
should be restored.
THE STATE HOUSE.
The report Of the state house commits
,i0cers will furnish you detailed account
Il The progress Of work on the capitol, ani
he cost IF the same. The new senate
climber Is one Of-the most beautiful assem-
bly rooms in the United States. The walls
If the central wing Of the building have
been finished 10 the height IF the first story
The commissioners base invited architects
to Srtbinir plans and specifications for com
9letirg the building and viii present those
received for your consideration.
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The Kansas National Guard has been fully
organized under the provision, If the Uil!-
-arv law OF 1855 Il i composed of four
regiments and one bl terry, comprising an
effective force of 1920 officers and men.
The report Of the adiataut general fur
liSheS fuII Information concerning is ~
equipment and needs, aud |
his suggestions, together with
he recommendations # the military board
10 your considrrate attention.
: HISTORY OF KANSAS REGIMENTS.
Shortly after the close uf lie civil war.
the legislature directed the publication of
history Of Kansas regiments \ fe1
sketches. all of them brief. and many ef
them worthless n historical records. were
written. and I small volume containing
them was printed Nearly the whole edi-
ton of this volume WIS destroyed 5y ire,
shortly after lis publication. and very few
copies Of 1t ara now in existence. Il view
IF the Spl.nded record madt siV tn. souu-
state during he war of the rec. ,iion-far
Kansas furnished more soldiers ii proper
ton to population. than any other state ~
the union, and the percentage Of her sol
dlcr> killed and wounded III battle ~as
greater than that shown b. any otner stale
it would Seem appropriate thai something
should be done to 20 lvCt ana preserve. IN
permanent form. i history Of the Kansas
regiments.
STATE NINE INSPECTOR.
The coal mining industry il Kansas has
assumed vast proportions, employing thou
sands Of men and millions If capi.4I The
oQt9uf Of the mines for 1884, vas - 50p.-
300 bushels; that for 1ss5 aggregated Be-
DOT. 421 bushels: and that 70. 1896 will